COTABATO CITY – The chief of the Environment department in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DENR-ARMM) announced his office will sue local government units (LGUS) in the region that do not comply with Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

Secretary Kahal Kedtag of DENR-ARMM said LGUS in the region that do not implement provisions of RA 9003 will be charged administratively based on Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991.

“We appeal to the LGUS to comply with the law. We need to impose the law,” Sec. Kedtag said. He added his office will coordinate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-ARMM) to compel LGUS to implement the provisions of RA 9003.

DENR-ARMM also encouraged the region’s LGUS to provide and submit their comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) as mandated by RA 9003.

That law defines the policy framework, institutional mechanisms, and mandate for LGUS to achieve a 25% waste reduction target through an integrated SWMP based on the 3Rs – reduce, re-use and recycle.

Based on a study, the country generated 10.6 million tons of solid waste in 2012 and that volume is expected to double in 2025. This is the reason why solid waste management is considered a major environmental issue by the government.

In a two-day learning event on ecological solid waste management conducted by the Environment and Management Bureau (EMB)-12, which was also participated by EMB-ARMM in Cotabato City, the National Solid Waste Management Council ordered all LGUS to submit their 10-year SWMP not later than November 30this year.

Section 50 of RA 9003 said local government officials and officials of government agencies concerned who fail to comply with and enforce rules and regulations promulgated relative to the solid waste management law shall be charged administratively in accordance with RA 7160 and other existing laws, rules and regulations.

“Waste mismanagement has serious environmental effects (and that resulted in) the passage of RA 9003; we need to implement it the soonest possible,” Sec. Kedtag said. The department can provide technical assistance to LGUS in the formulation and implementation of their SWMPS, said the DENRARMM chief.